Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Atonement

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 22:

BPOV

“No. That’s a bad idea.” Damn it.

“We don’t know when they are going to strike. Clive believes Kebi doesn’t know. He is very good at detecting deception.”

“How good was he when you were in Egypt, Garrett? Because he seemed to be off his game a bit then.”

“I know Bella. Look you can handle this. You will have Carlisle… I mean Esm… look if you run into trouble or there is some supernatural creature you think you can’t handle and can’t throw the Cullen’s at, then retreat and call me.”

Oh hell no.

“You think I’m worried about doing this myself? I’m worried about us being apart. Every time we have been apart this week, bad things have happened Garrett. We need to stay together. Send Edward to the damn building by himself.”

“I can’t send him alone Bella. He has no idea what he is doing. He wouldn’t have a clue what to do with a bomb. Especially a nuclear bomb.” Garrett said calmly.

“Garrett… I have a bad feeling. Let Edward and I go to the building. When the bad guys show up I will kill them and call you.”

“You’re just now getting a bad feeling? He laughed. I wasn’t amused. I was scared. I had a very bad feeling about him leaving me.

“Don’t laugh. It’s not funny.”

“Bella what if quick action needs to be taken? You don’t have the knowledge. We don’t know when they will arrive. We know where the virus is. You take care of that, I take care of the bomb and then we go on a nice vacation. Maybe Broadway? How about a Broadway play?”

He was trying to distract me. We had planned to go to the hotel together. Take care of the virus, take care of the bomb, call it a day. Find a hotel with a large bed and spend a week in it. Piece of cake. Stone dead. Amun dead. Apparently his wife would soon be if not already dead. We were running out of bad guys. This shouldn’t be a problem.

Now he wants to change plans. We were in the field office arguing about this. We should be at the damn Holiday Inn taking care of business.

“Garrett…”

Damn it! He kissed me. He was still kissing me…

“Bella, I need you to take care of this. We are running out of time. Please?”

“Okay.” I gave up. We could do this. If I hurried I could get to the building in time.

“I love you Garrett.”

“I love you Bella.”

“Don’t do anything stupid. Please?” I begged.

He kissed me on the lips quickly as a way of answering and walked out of the room, dragging me by the hand.

“Rose called. Her and Emmett want to know what you want to do with Kayhat?” Carlisle said as we walked in the room.

“They found him?” I asked surprised.

“Yes. They fought numerous werewolves who are now dead and have him in handcuffs. Emmett wants to know if he can torture him.” Carlisle said quietly. He didn’t seem to approve but to his credit he did pass on the information.

“No. No torture. We need professionals who speak Arabic to interrogate him. He will be the one to stand trial before the world for these crimes. Tell them to text me his coordinates and we will have Connolly’s team pick him up. Sit tight until then.” Garrett instructed Carlisle, who simply nodded.

Garrett pulled me in a bit too closely. At least he held on to me for longer than he normally did. Almost like he was leaving me… longer than a few hours.

I shook my head. I needed him. He knew that. He wouldn’t leave me alone. Not after finding each other so soon. Not for good.

Please don’t Garrett.

I watched the man who had quickly became so important to my life, drive off with my ex boyfriend. He did not want to take a chance of missing the bomb. He told me the fear of what he saw in London weighed on his mind. That left me with…

“You ready Bella?”

Carlisle and Esme.

“Yeah Carlisle. Listen, when we get there maybe it would be best for you guys to stay outside and I will call you if anything goes wrong with the virus.”

“We will be fine Bella. You can count on us. Please?” Carlisle asked. I managed not to take a deep breath. I just nodded and got into the Government issued Sedan. Esme sat in the front with me.

Thirty eight minutes later we were at the hotel. A simple hotel. Looked full judging by the parking lot. I had a number for a bio terrorism team. I would call them when the virus were secured. They would take it from there.

Carlisle and Esme stayed in the hallway behind me. I listened to the voices inside but couldn’t understand any of them. I really needed to start working on languages.

“I’m going to open the door and hit them before they know what happened. I doubt they will have the virus out in the open.” I whispered to my partners. I heard eight heartbeats. They were all present, thank God.

I ripped the handle off and kicked the door in. Taking a look around I saw several things at once.

One, they were slobs.

Two, they were all in their underwear and t shirts. So not cool.

Three, many of them were sweating profusely. I suppose carrying death in briefcases would do that to someone.

Four, they were very surprised.

And five.

One of these damn idiots had one of the globes out of the case in its hands, looking closely at it. In his bare hand. It was a pretty blue globe, slightly smaller than a golf ball. I watched in seeming slow motion as the one holding the globe, eyes became very wide, his mouth dropped open at my appearance and his hands leaned down. The pretty blue gel like globe rolled off his hands towards the floor.

Damn it. If it hit the ground…

I dove. There was no way I had the dexterity control to catch it before it burst on the ground. I would crush it. Water bad. Air not as bad but still bad. The families in this hotel would be dead.

Instead of reaching for it I rolled on my back and slid under it.

I opened my mouth.

Catching it between my teeth, I swallowed it whole.

Oh shit.

How am I going to explain this to the bioterrorism team?

The yelling started very quickly. One man shot me. Another shot me. I suppose when they realized that this wasn’t working, another one moved towards the briefcases. They were going to dump them all!

Eight shots rang out.

The yelling stopped.

I sat up slowly and saw Esme with a smoking .45 in her hand and eight dead terrorists on the floor.

“Did I do that right?”

I nodded furiously at Esme. When I sat up I felt the globe burst inside me. My eyes widened.

“Close your mouth and hold your nose closed Bella. Do not breathe!” Carlisle instructed me. I did as I was told. This really was more his territory. I had never swallowed a deadly virus before. This was definitely a new experience.

“Bella, are you okay?”

I rolled my eyes. What did he think? I was going to get sick?

“I mean I know it isn’t… look I’ve never seen anyone swallow a… just nod if you are doing okay and don’t let go of your nose or open your mouth, okay?”

I nodded. I dialed the bio team with my free hand and gave it to him.

“No. I need to figure out how to destroy that virus inside you. I can’t explain to the bio terrorism team that you have a burst globe inside you. I need these globes to find out what is going on. We need to take the cases back to the field office into the lab downstairs. It is equipped to seal itself in case of a release. I can study it there.”

I nodded. Guess I would be holding my breath for a bit longer. Thank God for all that time I spent underwater.

I hope things go smoother for Garrett.

Garrett POV

“So Peter Whitlock?” I asked, surprised.

“Yeah. He said he was friends with a Jasp…”

“Yes. I know of them. Jasper is with Ty in Vegas. They have apparently taken care of that situation. I am surprised about this Peter but glad he showed up. So you have the coordinates?”

“Yes. Headin to the airport to get him now. Will have him in Washington by tomorrow afternoon.”

“Excellent.” Things were finally wrapping up.

“You need me to talk you through the nuke?” Jason asked.

“Nope. I was disarming nukes before you were born.” I told him.

“No you haven’t. How many nukes have you ever actually disarmed? Bombs that were set to go off? Not missiles at the bottom of the seafloor.”

It was a good question. I had to think for a few seconds.

“None, but that’s why this one will be so special. It will be my first.”

“Uh huh. I’ll have my phone. Put it on video when you get there.”

“Okay Connolly. Good job.”

I ended the call and saw Edward staring out the window.

“That’s why you wanted Bella to go with Carlisle and Esme. You are afraid this may go off and you don’t want her near it.” He mumbled.

“If that upsets you I will let you out. I don’t plan to die but we are dealing with a nuclear fucking bomb.”

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world, Garrett.” Edward grinned.

I drove in silence trying to keep my thoughts off of what Bella looks like nude. He would not see that.

“I agree. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

“Would you cut that out?”

“I can’t help it.” He shrugged his shoulders.

“You could not respond to my thoughts out loud. Pretend you don’t hear them.”

“I’m surprised you came without Bella to stop me from reading your thoughts. You really didn’t want her here.”

I sighed.

“True. This is probably the only place on Earth I wouldn’t want her with me.”

“What do you think she would do if you were gone?” Edward asked.

“She would carry on. Her and Ty. She has her parents. She will be…”

“Devastated without you.” Edward said quietly.

“Yes, well let’s hope she doesn’t have to find out. There is the building. We will drive around looking for strange vehicles. If we see none we wait on the first floor and you listen for thoughts of drivers coming in.”

“What am I to listen for?”

“Someone thinking oh shit please don’t let this bomb blow up when I hit a bump.” I told him honestly. He laughed. I wasn’t kidding.

We drove around three times and saw no unusual vans or cars. That meant nothing but it was all I could do short of busting every trunk open. I would give it a couple hours. I believe they would want the virus in the water system of the outer city before they blew up inner city LA.

I finally parked in a reserved stall on the first floor. I had another call to make.

“Wassup G Man? Please tell me that you are needin me there and I can leave Hillbilly and Alice here.”

“Ty, has the Kebi situation been taken care of?”

“She dead as shit if that’s what you are talking about. Clive did it. Fucker has a serious grudge goin on.”

“Tell him to go to Washington. Get him set up with our people there as a British MI6 agent. Adel Kayhat is in route. Connolly should have him in Washington tomorrow afternoon.”

“Big guy didn’t get chewed up? Ain’t that a bitch. I was hoping he would get taken out and I could help blondie move on.”

“Yes, well he made it.”

“Where do you want me?”

“Here.”

“That’s what I’m talkin about. Leavin now. Sun is going down. I can run and be there in a hour half or two.”

“Great. Listen Ty. Bella is taking care of the virus. I am at the US Bank building waiting on the team to show with the nuke. I need you to go to the field office with Bella. Make sure she stays in that office. Bottom level just to be safe.”

“Garrett you goin to stop this bomb or set it off?” Ty asked jokingly.

“Ty, you know these things are tricky.”

“Yeah, will you better know what you doin. You know Eddie gonna be up on her ass if something happens to you.”

“No worries. I have him with me.” I smiled and winked at Edward who rolled his eyes.

“That’s good. But seriously Gar. Be careful man.”

“Ty… I need you… if something goes wrong I need you to take care of Bella.”

“Uh… Garrett, I don’t know if I can do that.”

What the fuck?

“Excuse me?”

“Gar I love her but she is like a little sister to me. I can’t be… I mean I know she needs taken care of but… you know what? Fuck it. I’m a man. She is a woman. We both got needs. Somethin happens to you that you can’t service her no more I will take care of her. There any moves or any special spots I need to know about that she likes? I mean I’m gonna show her some things that are gonna blow her mind but if you got any advice that would help?”

Oh good lord.

“Is he really that stupid?” Edward whispered. I… wasn’t sure how to answer that.

“Ty… I meant….never mind.”

“No. I will do this for you Garrett. If you get blown up and smashed to atoms I’m gonna give that girl as many rides on the T train as she wants. I’ll even try not to be so damn good so it’s like you doin it to her.”

“Ty… you’re joking right?”

“I know what you talkin about Garrett. I love that girl with everything I got. She’s my family. You ain’t gotta ask me that. Now don’t do anything stupid and get back to the both of us. I’m on my way down. I’ll keep her low. You focus on the mission.”

“Thanks Ty.”

“See you in a few.”

I ended the call and sat back.

“So he is very interesting.” Edward commented.

“Yes. He is. Fierce fighter. Large heart. Loyal, brave, dedicated. I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

“He’s an idiot.” Edward commented casually.

“Yes but he’s mine and Bella’s idiot so don’t talk bad about him or I will rip your fucking head off.” I smiled.

“Wouldn’t dream of it. I like him.”

“You do?” I asked, surprised. “I know he told me he answered your call one day and…”

“He said nothing that wasn’t true. He said what needed to be said to protect her. I told you Garrett. I only want her happy. He makes her happy. I like him.”

I was about to call bullshit when Edward stiffened at the same time a black van drove past us.

“Yes?”

“Yes.” Edward whispered.

We stepped out of the car and followed on foot. The Van stopped in a service spot on the second level.

Two men stepped out. My phone buzzed. Carlisle?

The viruses were back at the field office. None were released. Carlisle was handling disposal. I wonder why he didn’t let the team we has on standby take it?

“Okay. I hear two heartbeats. They are alone. We are going to…”

My sentence was cut short by two gunshots. The two men who just exited the van were on the ground. I looked at Edward who was holding the gun trained on their bodies.

“Wow. That was… I mean wow. It was exhilarating.” Edward whispered. Then his face scrunched up when the smell of blood hit him.

“Do they usually bleed this much?” he whispered.

“Yes. When you blow off someone’s head, blood is involved.” I told him and gently took the gun from him before he tried to shoot the bomb.

We walked to the van and I gently broke the glass on the passenger side. The back glass could have been rigged. Edward dragged the two bodies he just made, to the nearby dumpster. The blood trail was there but looked like it could be anything in this light. I crawled in the back and saw the bomb.

This didn’t look good at all.

“What doesn’t look good?” Eddie asked.

“Would you stop that?!”

“Sorry. So what doesn’t look good?”

“This. I don’t recognize this circuitry.”

“Is that a timer?” he asked.

“No. It’s an alarm clock. When it hits zero it tells the terrorist to start the timer.” I told him.

“Why would… sarcasm. Nice.” It wasn’t my best but I was sitting next to a doomsday device.

“I have to call Connolly.”

The timer was at 2:28:56. Twenty eight minutes until the virus was supposed to have been delivered.

“Couldn’t handle it, could ya?” Connolly asked. I could hear his smile over the phone line.

“Look Jason.”

I pointed the camera of my phone over the bomb and ran it over the device twice. The second time he asked me to go back to the center and then to the lower left side of the casing.

“Well?”

“How hard would it be to evacuate Los Angeles?” he asked.

“Next option Jason.”

“Okay. We have to be gentle. Unscrew the far right side bolt. Gently. Make sure there are no wires attached to the bolts. This is going to be difficult….”

Bella POV

“I’m just saying that you should think about college Bella. Have some human experiences while you are being a super agent.”

This asshole. He knows I can’t talk. He knows I can’t leave because I need him to kill this crap in me. So he takes his sweet time and tries to tell me what to do.

I tapped him on his shoulder. When he turned around I shot the finger at him and then pointed to my mouth.

“Okay. Point taken. I’ll shut up now.”

He went back to his microscope.

“It was just a suggestion. You used to love literature and never really had a chanc…”

“Shut up all ready, Carlisle.” Esme said. I looked at her with as much gratitude as I could considering I was holding my nose and had my jaw clamped down.

“Fine. I can tell when my advice is not wanted.” Carlisle mumbled.

I sat watching my phone. Garrett had not texted me. I knew from Ty he found the bomb an hour ago. What the hell was taking so long? Ty should be here soon.

Forty five minutes later Carlisle had an epiphany. He at least looked excited. Taking a globe to the furnace, he sat it inside, closed the door and stepped back. I heard a roar, a whoosh and then nothing. He took some sort of monitor, opened the door and stuck the monitor in.

“Okay. Bella all you have to do is step into the furnace. When I close the door open your mouth and breathe out.”

Excuse me?

“Have you lost your mind Carlisle?” Esme asked for me. I nodded and jerked my thumb at her. What she said.

“As long as you don’t breathe in the fire won’t harm you.” Carlisle smiled. I grabbed a pen and wrote a message on the desk Esme was standing near.

“She says to try again, Carlisle.” Esme told him. I nodded my head.

“Fine. But you would have been safe. So long as you didn’t breathe in and blew the virus out. I suppose I can find something… maybe acid…?”

I sat back down and looked at my phone. What are you doing Garrett?

Garrett POV

“Jason, how much longer?”

“I don’t know, Garrett. Remove the top slowly.”

“You can quit saying slowly. It’s understood.” I had been working on this damn thing for nearly two hours. We were running out of time.

“Damn it. Edward move the camera closer.” Connolly said.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Traps. A shit load of traps. Garrett this bomb can be disarmed but it would take a week. We got 28 minutes and two options here. Option one is to reach into the damn thing, pull the three red wires and hope for the best. The other is to get it out of the city quickly and try to run it into an unpopulated area. At least as unpopulated as you can find. We got no time to be playin around here.”

Damn it.

“No Garrett.”

“Shut up Edward. Connolly I need a chopper on top of this building in ten minutes. Can you make it happen?”

“On it. Good luck. If I don’t see you again…”

“I know. It’s been a pleasure Jason. Get me that chopper and a pilot who understands he is leaving as soon as he lands.”

I ended the call.

“You need to leave. Now.” I told Edward.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Outside. Now.”

I met him in the front of the van.

“No point in both of us doing this Edward. I appreciate your help. You saved a lot of lives today by picking this van out. Now I have to finish the job.”

“Garrett…”

“Tell Bella I love her. She is the only woman I have ever given my heart to.”

“I will. Good luck.” Edward reached his hand out and I took it.

“It’s never been determined if a vampire can survive a nuclear bomb. Maybe I will be the first.” I shrugged my shoulders, knowing better. Not even a vampire could survive atoms splitting. We were still made of basic building blocks of all solid matter.

I unloaded the bomb waved at Edward once more and ran to the service elevator, taking it straight to the top of the building. Connolly did well. A black military transport copter landed twelve minutes later.

“Are you Garrett?” The pilot asked.

“Yes. Run.” I told him. He was well trained. He did as he was told.

Once he was inside, I moved quickly, packing the bomb into the back of the chopper. 16 minutes. I should be able to get many miles over the water. Prevailing winds should blow any radiation away from the coast if I was judging this right. It was time to fly.

I tried not to think about her. I didn’t want to lose my nerve. Still though I couldn’t help it. She came to me at the end but she was the best thing that ever happened to me. Her body. Her smile. Holding her, watching her laugh. She would be so angry. But she would understand. She would be strong for her parents. Ty would get her through this. She would go on. She would have purpose.

I had rose at least sixty feet off the roof. Enough to get me going. It was time to move…

The door just ripped off. Edward’s Cullen’s hand was on my throat.

“I’m sorry Garrett, but I wasn’t lying. I really do just want her happy.” He pulled me by the throat before I could respond and I found myself falling sixty feet to the top of the parking garage on my back. I watched my chopper fly away.

Standing up I watched in shocked silence as the chopper disappeared. I wasn’t aware of the passing of time until my watch beeped.

The explosion was far away but so bright it could be seen clearly. It was high. The shock waves broke some windows even here, but it was over the Pacific. The wind would keep the radiation from the city. From the Coast. I should have left but I couldn’t move.

My phone buzzed and I looked at the text from Bella.

/What was that? Where are U? Ty is here. Call me. Freaking out./

I dialed her number and she answered.

“Oh thank God baby. I thought… it doesn’t matter. Did you see the explosion? Carlisle made me swallow acid. I’ll explain later but damn it tasted nasty. Just please get here? Please?”

“I’m fine Bella.”

“Another bomb went off. Over the ocean. Was it a plane? Like New York, you think?”

“No Bella. That was my bomb. We couldn’t disarm it… Bella, are the Cullen’s there still?”

“Yes. I mean Jasper and Alice followed Ty and Carlisle and Esme are here. Alice is freaking out but she won’t say why. Keeps mumbling Edward’s name. Is he still with you?”

“I’ll be there shortly Bella. I love you.”

“I love you too Garrett.”